NASCAR denies gun ads; ‘Gradual shift’ in their position on guns

Largest online supplier of guns claims their ads were denied by NASCAR two days after a race sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and the NRA

K-VAR Corp claims to be the largest online supplier of rifles (AK, AR, bolt action), handguns, shotguns (pump & semi-auto), parts & accessories in the USA. The company was established in 1993.

NASCAR has long separated from it’s Southern roots. However, a large portion of their crowd remains the beer drinking and gun holding (sometimes at the same time) demographic. I’m not knocking it, it’s far more fun to aim at the targets with double vision.

If you’re a gun manufacture or distributor, NASCAR is the sport for you. And it has been in the past. But, a new gradual shift is here.

In March and April, National Event Publications contacted multiple firearms manufactures and retailers about advertising. K-Var agreed to advertise in the official NASCAR program for the final 26 races of the season.

In total, 16 manufactures agreed to advertise. Brands included: CZ-USA, Beretta, Daniel Defense and others.

NASCAR denies gun ads

K-Var specific ads were submitted on April 19, 2019. Four months later, on August 19, 2019 K-Var were informed that the gun ads were rejected.

August 19th, 2019 is an interesting time for the memo to come through. On August 17th, NASCAR visited Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. That event is called the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

Two days after a race was sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, a leading gun distributor and of course the NRA… NASCAR disallows ads from K-Var.

It’s worth noting this isn’t exactly an anti-gun position, yet. It is a step back from rapid fire rifles.

National Event Publications sent a message to K-Var:

“We just heard from NASCAR on a number of gun related ads and unfortunately, due a gradual shift in NASCAR’s position on guns, these ads must be edited/changed—especially those that are depicted as assault-style rifles/sniper rifles. NASCAR is still open to some of the less controversial gun accessories, concealed carry, or classes,” the message read from National Event Publications.

Kyle Larson at Bristol Motor Speedway
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 17: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2019 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

K-Var statement on NASCAR disallowing their gun ads

“Major organizations, those with no stake in politics, are taking political sides and alienating their consumers in the process. Perhaps the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods was just ignorant of his consumer base or Yeti made a miscalculation when it cut ties with the NRA. However, when it comes to NASCAR taking an anti-gun approach, it simply baffles the imagination as to who is calling the shots and how out of touch they are with their fan base,” the post written by David Dolbee of K-Var reads.

“AK-47s, AR-15s, and scoped rifles have all been featured in the past, so I guess, by that statement, it can only mean that NASCAR is marching toward a complete anti-gun stance—it is just slow rolling it for some reason.”

Do the executives at NASCAR think they are being sly and trying to judge its fans’ position on America’s most popular rifle, the AR-15 or Modern Sporting Rifle, or is it so blind to the interests of its own fan base’s demographics?

“Whether or not you are a hardcore NASCAR fan, do you think the majority of NASCAR’s fanbase is pro Second Amendment or pro gun control? Does anyone really believe an overwhelming majority of NASCAR fans are not going to flip out at NASCAR’s ‘gradual shift?’ “

The unconfirmed ‘gradual shift’ comes around the same time of mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton Ohio. And in the end of August, there was another in Odessa, Texas. In August alone, 51 people died from mass shootings in America.

More

Bristol Race Results: August 17, 2019

Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops discusses his initial NASCAR sponsorship with Dale Earnhardt

Links

K-Var | NRA | Bass Pro Shops | NASCAR | Bristol Motor Speedway

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